The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-23
The Andrews Railroad Raid.

An interesting book just published
gives an account of the Andrews rail-
road raid into Georgia in 1862, which
will be remembered by many of our
readers. Andrews was a Union spy,
and brave and audacious. This man
conceived the idea of making bold
dash with small party into the heart
of the South, capturing train, tearing
up tracks and burning bridges in a wild
race back to the North. He persuaded
General Buell. in March, 1862, to try
the experiment with eight men. An
drews at that time depended on a
friendly engineer on the Georgia State
railroad who was to deliver over his
engine. But the day before the train
was to be seized this engineer was
transferred to distant line, and as
Andrews had brought no engineer with
him the expedition came to nothing.
Fortunately all the members of it made
their way back to the Union lines
safely and the secret was kept. In
April Andrews organized another raid.
1t was on a larger scale, twenty-four
men being enlisted in it. 1t was more
carefully planned, two experienced en-
gineers being members of it. The
men were all volunteers from General
Mitchel's division, and fine set of
fellows in all espects-brave, cool,
keen-witted and capable of anything.
The story of their journey into the
South, of their meeting in Andrews
bedroom on the eve of the great event,
of the dramatic capture of the train at
Big Shanty, while the conductor, en-
gineer, fireman and passengers were at
breakfast, is more interesting than any
novel, and there is nothing in fiction TO
surpass the narrative of the subsequent
flight and pursuit. They darted out of
the depot like an arrow, but soon the
speed began to slacken and then the
train came almost to stop. They dis
covered that the hampers had been
shut when the station was reached and
they had forgot to open them in the
excitement of the moment. They
were much embarrassed by the want of
proper tools to tear up the track with,
and this and frequent cutting of the
wires delayed them. Then they found
that there were extra trains ahead, in
consequence of General Mitchel's raid
on Huntsville, and this was was an I'M
expected addition to their difficulties,
holding them at stations until the pur-
suers were at one time only five min
utes behind them. The pursuit was
most determined. When Conductor
Fuller found his train gone he and
Murphy raised laugh by starting out
to pursue it on foot. 1t seemed
foolish, but had great results. A
run of couple of miles brought them
to hand-car, and on this they were
able to make twenty miles, and that
brought them to spare engine, which
they mounted and turned in swift pur-
suit of the fugitives. The latter had
not been able so thoroughly to tear up
the rails as to block the track effectu-
ally, and after most exciting chase of
many hours Fuller and his followers
came in sight of Andrews and the cap
tured train. Then ensued a wonder
full race. The raiders were being
chased so hotly that they could not stop
do was to throw ties upon the track be-
hind them, in the hope of stopping
their pursuers. The latter had to stop
to remove the ties, but this was quickly
done, and then they opened their
throttle wide and rushed after the fly
ing Union men. Andrews made one
desperate effort to put a burning
bridge between himself and the con-
federates. His train consisted of en-
CINE, tender and three empty box-cars
A fire was with difficulty kindled in the
hindmost car, for it was raining hard,
and when the middle of a covered
bridge was reached this burning car
was uncoupled, in the hope that it
would fire the structure. But every
thing was too wet and the pursuers
were too close at hand. Before the car
was well ablaze they entered the bridge,
where it could do no harm. This was
the final effort. 1t was no longer pos
sible to take the time for wooding and
watering, and the power of Andrews
engine was gradually declining. A
few miles ahead was Chattanooga, and
in spite of the severed wires Fuller had
succeeded in sending a dispatch ahead
to stop the flying train. Mr.. Pittenger
and some of the other survivors think
that if Andrews had fought the result
would have been better. OF course
it is difficult to say what would or
would not have happened if some
other course had been taken, but it
rather seems probable that while the
Andrews party might have overcome
Fuller this would not have helped
them in the end, while it must have
settled their fate when they were taken.
Andrews had strong reluctance to
blood-shedding. He was not a soldier,
and all his instincts led him to prefer
strategy to force. He would not fight,
and when the end of the chase was
seen to be at hand he ordered his
men to Jump from the train, as it was
gradually brought to a stop, and scat
ter in the woods. Mr.. Pittinger thinks
the order to scatter was fatal mistake.
1t certainly was if the object was to
secure the prompt destruction of the
entire party, for it is impossible to sup
pose that any other result could have
followed an attempt to keep together
and to fight their way through hostile
country swarming with troops. But
however this may be, they scattered,
and, after undergoing many sufferings
and strange experiences, all of them
fell into the hands of the enemy. They
were variously treated-some with com
parative kindness, others with ferocious
brutality. One young hero was flogged
cruelty to make him betray his comrades
and his country, but he said no word.
OF course the raid had caused intense